Resolution: Clarifying Elections of Liberal Studies and University Curriculum Committee Members (Article II,
Section 10)
Whereas, wording regarding membership and election of members of the Liberal Studies Committee and
University Curriculum Committee (Faculty Constitution, Article II Section 10) could be left up to interpretation
as to whether elections were to be conducted by individual colleges or by CONEC as an election of the General
Faculty; and
Whereas, in the prior two years, CONEC has interpreted these elections to be elections conducted by the
individual colleges;
Be it resolved that the following changes be made to Article II, Section 10 of the WCU Faculty Constitution to
specify that elected positions in the Liberal Studies Committee and University Curriculum Committee be
conducted by the individual colleges in the spring. Changes are in bold italic.
Section 10.
Curriculum Assessment, Development, and Review
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II.10.2.
a The Liberal Studies Committee (LSC) monitors and maintains established learning outcomes
and documents their assessment within the program and considers all changes in the liberal
studies curriculum and program as detailed in the Official Liberal Studies Document
(http://www.wcu.edu/10943.asp). While the LSC will have authority to suggest the total
revision of this program, major revision (such as changing the number of required hours in the
liberal studies program or the re-allocation of hours) shall require an independent task force
empanelled by the Faculty Senate. The 15-member committee will include elected
representatives from each of the Colleges and Schools of the university and the Library as well
as three ex officio non-voting members including the Director of Undergraduate Advising, the
Chair of the Academic Policy and Review Council, and the Assistant Vice Chancellor for
Undergraduate Studies. Each College will conduct the election(s) for its representatives to the
LSC in the spring semester and report the results of these elections to CONEC and the
Secretary of the Faculty. Elected membership will be proportional from each College and
School. Representation shall be determined by calculating the average of the number of
junior/senior majors, undergraduate degrees awarded, undergraduate student credit hours
generated, FTE for students, and FTE for faculty from the preceding year of the election. Each
Spring CONEC will determine the distribution of the LSC membership based on these criteria
and will inform each College of the number of elections for vacant seats they are to hold that
semester. No College or School shall have more than three members on the LSC and the total
number of elected members from all Colleges and Schools shall be eleven. Each College,
School, and the Library shall have at least one member on the LSC. Elections will be staggered
and terms will be three years. A quorum will be met when a simple majority of voting members
is present. The chair shall be elected from the membership at the first meeting each year, can
serve a subsequent term, and is eligible to vote on all matters.
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II.10.5
The University Curriculum Committee (UCC) considers all new programs as well as new courses
not related to Liberal Studies, Graduate Council, or Professional Education Council curricula.
Some of the matters considered by the UCC include planning undergraduate and non-degree
curriculum and reviewing the following: establishment of academic programs/majors,
certification programs, minors, or concentrations within an existing major; consolidation of
existing programs/majors; substantial revision or curricular modifications of programs/majors;
major extension of academic programs/majors to off-campus sites; and changing titles of
academic programs, majors, minors, or concentrations. Membership in the UCC will include a
representative appointed from each college’s curriculum committee and an appointed member
each from the library, LSC, PEC, and Graduate Council. Six additional members will be elected,
one from each college that develops curriculum, and will serve three-year staggered terms.
Each college that develops curriculum will conduct the election(s) for its representatives to the
UCC in the spring semester and report the results of these elections to CONEC and the
Secretary of the Faculty. No college may have a majority of members. A quorum will be met
when a simple majority of voting members is present. The chair shall be elected from the
membership at the first meeting each year, can serve a subsequent term, and is eligible to vote
on all matters.